CHAPTER III.

THE SAME CONTINUED....THE OTTOMAN TURKS.

ABOUT the beginning of the 13th century,

a new power arose, which first made head in Asia, and at length became the terror of all Europe. We have spoken particularly, in the former part of this Compend, of the irruptions of the Scythians from the interior parts of Asia. A warlike tribe, sprung from this prolific fountain, had for some time infested the countries of western Asia, and at length were estabfished in Bithynía. Othoman appeared at their head, and laid the foundation of a dynasty of most warlike and powerful princes. He flourished about the year 1229. In no part of the annals of history do we find a braver, more politic, or fortunate race of monarchs than that of Othoman, or Othman. They seldom failed to unite bravery with prudence, or good fortune with enterprize. In Asia and Africa their conquests were coextensive with the empire of Rome; nor would they have fallen short in Europe but for the intervention of unexpected causes.

Othoman was succeeded by his son Orchanes....he by Amurath I. and he by Bajazet I. Amurath led a great army over the Hellespont, and invaded Europe. After making various conquests, he fixed the seat of his empire at Adrianople. Amurath estab lished the Janizaries-perhaps the most powerful and efficient corps....the most perfectly trained to the art

war,

of and the ablest and most to be relied on in the day of battle, of any ever known. In the history of the Turks, it is remarkable that, for several centuries, the succeeding monarch outdid his predecessor. The son generally excelled the father in energy, policy, grandeur of schemes, and felicity of execution. This remark will, in a good measure, apply till the reign of Solyman the magnificent,who raised the Turkish empire to its zenith of glory, It was not so with the emperors of Rome.

Bajazet, the son of Amurath, was a very great general. He was impetuous as a thunderbolt, yet of cool and thoughtful courage. He possessed the craft and policy of negotiation together with the powers of compulsion. The Turkish armies in his time possessed both numbers and discipline. Bajazet generally commanded from three to five hundred thousand men: but the flower of his army was 50,000 Janizaries. With such a force no power in Europe could have resisted him; and he had matured every plan for extinguishing the Greek empire in the capture of Constantinople, But providence had raised up a power before which this haughty conqueror must fall, in the midst of his pride, prosperity, and glory. 3 Tamerlane was, by inheritance, prince of a Tartar clan. But nature had endowed him with a mind capable of forming and executing the grandest enterprizes. He early showed that superiority in council and in, action, which raised him to the high station of cham of the Usbeck Tartars. His capital was Samarchand. He soon, by the wisdom and energy of his ad

ministrators, drew to his standard innumerable Tartar tribes, and saw himself at the head of the empire of Ghenghis Khan;-and inflamed by the glory of that great conqueror, he invaded and subdued India, extending his empire to the eastern ocean. From the conquest of India he had just returned, enriched with spoils of immense value, when ambassadors arrived at his court from the emperor of Constantinople, whose capital was now besieged; and from various other christian princes already expelled from their dominions. These ambassadors implored the aid of Tamerlane against the haughty Turk who threatened the conquest of all Europe.

All

The mighty Tartar immediately dispatched away a herald to Bajazet, desiring to know the reasons of his conduct, and offering to mediate between him and the Greek emperor. Bajazet, whom no power could intimidate, returned a haughty and indignant answer; upon which Tamerlane marched against him, it is commonly said, at the head of a million of men. Europe stood paralized for a moment at the expected shock; and dreading every thing if the Turks should prevail. They came to a general battle on the plains of Pharsalia, the very same place where, many ages before, Pompey had decided the fate of the Roman empire, in a great battle with Mithridates, king of Pontus. Perhaps a greater battle has not been fought in modern times. Each army was drawn up in the most consummate manner, according to the tactics of the times. Fifty thousand Janizaries, in a solid column, occupied the centre of the Turkish army, at the head of which Bajazet fought on foot.

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Tamerlane, in the morning, drew up the flower of his immense force, under the command of his ablest officers, and directed them to commence the action, whilst he looked on as a spectator, and stood ready to send necessary reinforcements from time to time; and he had previously announced to Bajazet that he might expect to meet him in battle when he should see the green flag displayed.

The first shock was tremendous, and the ensuing conflict truly dreadful. The Tartar lords reminded their soldiers of the glory of Ghenghis Khan, and of the conquest of India.

"Long time in even scale the battle hung."

At length, however, the wings of the Turkish army began to give way, borne down by the almost infinite force of the Tartar cavalry and infantry, who fought with astonishing rage and fury. Tamerlane, perceiving the moment of advantage, dispatched ten thousand horse, and as many foot, to sustain the wasting ardor of the battle.

The Turkish army were generally defeated, dispersed, or cut to pieces, except the Janizaries, who, animated by the presence and example of their gallant monarch, seemed to defy all mortal prowess; they stood firm like a rock, which, unmoved, sustains the surging billows. This formidable force, composed of troops of known superiority, and led by the Turkish sultan, who fought with prodigious valor, still held the fortune of the field doubtful, when Tamerlane was seen advancing under the green flag, at the head of 50,000 chosen cavalry, the splendid guards of the con

queror of the east. At that moment the battle was renewed, and the Janizaries, now nearly surrounded, fought with amazing bravery around the person of their king. But they were overwhelmed as with an irresistible torrent, and Bajazet, contrary to his own determination, was taken alive, with many of his guards.

It is related by some historians that Tamerlane demanded of Bajazet, when brought before him, what he would have done with him, provided fortune had declared in his favor. The captive monarch sternly and haughtily replied, "I would have put you in an iron cage, and carried you for a show all over my kingdom." "The same," said Tamerlane, "shall be done to yourself;"-and was accordingly done without delay.

Tamerlane, having rescued the Greek emperor, and freed Europe from immediate danger, by humbling the Turkish power, returned into Asia; and subduing Syria and Palestine, proceeded to Egypt and Persia, and returned, after a period of eight years, to Samarchand, through the middle countries of Asia. He is represented as a prince of great moderation, self-command, and of a mild and amiable temper. He was adored and almost deified by his subjects. His reign was long and prosperous, and his dominions are thought to have been nearly as extensive as those of Russia, comprehending a considerable portion of the known world. The emperor of Hindostan claims direct descent from Tamerlane, whose lineal descendants also led the Tartars in the conquest of China,